“He cared about people deeply and he was very upset with what was happening in Minneapolis and throughout the United States,” said Michael Pretti, Alex’s father, remembering his son as compassionate and devoted to helping others.
Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, was fatally shot by federal law enforcement agents in south Minneapolis on January 24, 2026. Pretti — a U.S. citizen with no criminal record who was licensed to carry a firearm in Minnesota — had been involved in community actions and protests amid a surge of federal immigration enforcement operations in the city.
Video captured by bystanders shows a chaotic encounter between Pretti and several agents on the street. According to multiple independent news outlets, footage shows Pretti holding his phone and not aggressively pointing a weapon before he was pepper-sprayed, wrestled to the ground, and then shot.
Federal officials, including Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, initially claimed Pretti approached agents with a handgun, resisted disarmament, and posed a threat — assertions that have been widely challenged by video evidence and eyewitness accounts.
The shooting took place at about 9 a.m. near 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue, during what the federal government described as an operation tied to immigration enforcement. Local authorities, including Minneapolis police leadership, confirmed Pretti was a lawful gun owner and emphasized that key details remain under investigation.
Pretti’s family described him as caring and deeply committed to others — both as a healthcare worker and a member of his community. Union representatives and coworkers at the VA hospital echoed those sentiments, noting his dedication to patient care and his compassion as a nurse.
The incident has reignited tense debates about federal law enforcement tactics and oversight in Minneapolis, following another federal agent shooting earlier in the month in which Renée Good was killed and subsequent protests over immigration enforcement practices.
In the days after Pretti’s death, vigils and protests took place, and his family, friends, and community advocates have called for greater transparency, accountability, and a thorough review of the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
As the public response grows and investigations continue, many in the community emphasize that Pretti’s legacy — as someone who cared deeply for others — should be central to how he is remembered.
